Scouring device



SCOURING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1961 I INVENTOR. Lou/5 J. 51L VER 0 lr/MA m ATTY'.

United States Patent Ofitice Patented Oct. 30, 1962 3,060,478 SCOURING DEVICE Louis J. Silver, 3434 Baker St., San Francisco, (Ialif. Filed Aug. 22, 1.961, Ser. No. 133,088 Claims. (Cl. 15-209) This invention relates to an improved scouring device.

There have previously been scouring devices in which a scouring pad is held by a handle. However, heretofore the scouring pad has been secured to the handle by a nut-and-bolt type of arrangement. This meant that the nut had to be removed from the bolt each time the pad was to be removed, inserted, or changed, and the loose parts tended to get lost. Moreover, the scouring pad could rotate relatively to the handle during the scouring operation and such revolving interfered with the efliciency of the device. It was sometimes argued that this revolving distributed the wear, but studies show that there is little advantage and that the inconveniences during use more than counterbalance the advantage. Moreover, it would have no advantage over readjusting the pad except for the inconvenience of taking off and putting together the nut and bolt assembly.

The present invention provides an improved scourin device in which the pad is easily installed, replaced, or reversed. It incorporates a unitary holding member which does not come apart from itself and which forms a single unit holding the scouring pad into the handle. The handle is provided with special projections which engage the pad and hold it in place against rotation, and the holding device for the securing pad is held locked in its closed position by other projections that are part of the handle. This invention thus holds the pad against rotation while enabling quick change of pads. It enables the user to get the most out of the purchased product.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a scouring device embodying the principles of the present invention. A portion has been broken away to show the way in which projections on the holder lock into the scouring pad to prevent relative rotation.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top-plan view of a portion of the device showing how the fastening device is secured to the handle.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation and partly in section of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the device, with the handle broken off to conserve space and the pad shown partly in section.

A scouring device 5 of this invention, as shown in the drawings, comprises a holding member 6, a scouring pad 7, and a novel securing device 8 that locks the pad 7 and holding member 6 together. The holding member 6 is molded in a single piece of plastic and is provided with a handle 9 and with a bellor cup-like pad support member 10. The lower surface of the member 10 is provided with a plurality of slender projections 11 which extend down into the pad 7 and help to hold it against rotation. In the center of the cup 10 there is -a flat portion 12 having a rectangular slot 13 with a circular central enlarged portion 14. The lower surface 15 of the portion 12 is recessed upwardly, while its generally flat upper surface 16 is provided with two pairs of retainer members 17, integral parts of the cup 10 that project up from the surface 16.

The scouring pad 7 is a circular pad of metal, plastic, or other scouring material, with an oval eyelet 18, which acts to clamp the pad together and to hold its elements and also to receive the device 8.

The securing device 8 is a novel feature of the invention. It includes an enlarged circular base member 20 having an upwardly projecting tubular casing 21. A locking member 22 has an enlarged head 23 generally rectangular as seen in horizontal cross-section, and 'a stem 24 which extends down into the casing 21 and has an enlarged end 25. The casing 21 is closed over the stem 24 to a size smaller than that of the end 25, so that the member 8 cannot come apart. A spring 26 is positioned between the end 25 and the closure at the upper end of the casing 21 for keeping the stem 24 in a position where it can easily turn. The head 23 has a bottom edge or shoulder 28.

In assembly, the head 23 and base 20 are inserted upwardly through the eyelet 18, with the base 20 abutting the bottom of the eyelet 18 and a portion of the pad 7 around it. Then the rectangular head 23 is pushed up through the holder slot 13 until the head 23 is above the surface 16; then the head 23 is turned and is held locked by the upwardly-projecting members 17. The head 23 is then perpendicular to the axis of the slot 13; so it cannot come out. The very act of insertion involves a spring action of the pad 7 itself, which tends to pull the fastener member 8 down through the hole 13, and this force therefore holds the lower edge 28 against the upper surface 16 in between the safety locks 17. During insertion, the projecting members 11 in the lower surface of the cup 10 engage and dig into the scouring pad 7, holding it against movement. Yet, neither these projections 11 nor the base 20 of the fastener 8 are in a position where they can interfere with the scouring action or can scratch the article being scoured. All the scouring is done by the pad 7.

To change a pad 7 or to remove it, one simply gives the head 23 a 90 turn, pulling it over the members 17 and then it will be pulled through the slot 13 by the resilient action of the pad 7 itself. It can be taken apart and another pad 7 inserted within a few seconds.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A scouring device including in combination a scouring pad of generally circular configuration having in its center an elongated eyelet; a holding member having a cup which has a lower concave surface adapted to receive a central portion of said scouring pad and to cup it upwardly with the eyelet out of contact with a surface to be scrubbed, said cup having a plurality of slender projections that extend into said pad and prevent it from rotating in said cup, said cup also having an elongated slot therethrough; and a unitary fastening member having a base plate adapted to rest below said eyelet, a tubular stem extending up from said base plate through said eyelet and slot, a locking member having a portion in said stem rotatable therein and a head portion adapted to engage the upper surface of said cup, and spring means urging said locking member toward said base plate.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said cup has a flat upper portion engaged by said head portion and having two pairs of retainer members for normally locking said locking member perpendicular to said slot.

3. In a scouring device comprising a scouring pad having an elongated central eyelet and a holding member having a handle and a bell-like support member for said pad with an elongated slot, the combination therewith of a unitary removable fastener having an enlarged base for fitting beneath said eyelet, a tubular column extending up from said base to extend through said eyelet and slot, a locking member having a lower end rotatable in said column and a head adapted to engage the upper surface of said bell-like support member, and a spring in said column having an upper end bearing against an upper portion of said column and a lower portion bearing against said locking member to urge the lower end thereof down toward said base member.

4. For use in a scouring device having a scouring pad with an elongated central eyelet and a holding member with a handle and a bell-like pad-support member having an elongated slot, a unitary removable fastener having an enlarged base adapted to fit beneath said eyelet, a tubular column extending up from said base, adapted to extend through said eyelet and slot, and having a restricted upper end, a locking member having an enlarged lower end portion rotatable in said column and a head adapted to engage the upper surface of said bell-like support member, and a spring in said column having an upper end bearing against the restricted upper end of said column and a lower portion bearing against the upper end of said lower end portion to urge said lower end portion down toward said base member.

5. A scouring device, comprising a scouring pad of generally circular configuration having in its center a long narrow eyelet; a holding member having a cup which has a lower concave surface adapted to receive a central portion of said scouring pad and to cup it upwardly with the eyelet out of contact with a surface to be scrubbed, said cup having an elongated slot therethrough; and a unitary fastening member having a base plate adapted to rest below said eyelet, a tubular stem extending up from said base plate through said eyelet and slot and having a restricted upper end, a locking member having a lower portion inside said stem and rotatable therein and a head portion above said stem adapted to engage the upper surface of said cup, and a spring compressed between said lower portion of said locking member and the upper end of said stern, for urging said locking member downwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,412,097 Weirner Apr. 11, 1922 1,984,990 Reinernan Dec. 18, 1934 2,493,835 Schimel Jan. 10, 1950 2,995,765 Ballato et a1. Aug. 15, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 728,335 Great Britain Apr. 20, 1955 

